It’s not a scam, though there are certainly several of this type. Actually, the reason you may not know about the money you’re owed is because these agencies are trying to avoid rip-offs themselves. The IRS won’t contact anyone about an unclaimed refund over the phone or email, for instance. So if you’ve ever lost a financial document – in the mail, moving, or otherwise – you might be in for a surprise.

In the video below, Money Talks News founder Stacy Johnson takes a look at the types of claims you can file and where to make them. Check it out, and then read on for links to get started.

As Stacy said, about 1 in 8 people have unclaimed property waiting. So even if you don’t, someone you know probably does. Checking is free and only takes a few minutes, so there’s nothing to lose. Here’s how you look…

Start with the state you live in.

Every state has an agency that maintains records on unclaimed property including money in old bank accounts, life insurance policies, contents of safe-deposit boxes, certificates of deposit, and uncashed checks. You can find a link to those agencies through the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators. After you check your current state, try all the states you or your immediately family have ever lived in. MissingMoney.com lets you search several states at once, but not all – some states don’t participate, so you’ll have to check them individually.

Check with national agencies.

There are other sources for unclaimed property to check with, most of which focus on a single type – like pensions. USA.gov has links for getting unclaimed money from several different sources, but here’s a breakdown of what you can get from where:

The USA.gov site also has links for replacing damaged currency, reporting tax violations (for rewards), and calculating savings bond interest.

Trace old stocks.

Old stock and bond certificates can still mean money if the company merged with another or changed its name. However, unlike claiming other kinds of money, this isn’t free. The SEC has a list of resources for researching old stock certificates, but they all charge a fee to do it. If you don’t think it’s worth the fee or you find out they’re worthless, you still might be able to sell them as collectibles.

Double-check and keep track.

If you ever receive offers by email that want to charge a fee to find lost cash, don’t bite. Simply contact your unclaimed property state agency and see what you’ve got coming. You should never have to pay money to get money. Then make sure you never lose money again: Cash all checks you get without delay, always update your mailing address ASAP, and create and maintain a will so your loved ones don’t lose out when you’re gone.

The North Face takes up to 40% off a selection of men's, women's, and kid's apparel. (Prices are as marked.) ... Read
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Updated: 2 days 16 hr ago

Subway offers a selection of footlong sub sandwiches for $4.99. That's $1 under last January's footlong offer, although that was good on all sandwiches. You can choose black forest ham, meatball marinara, spicy Italian, cold cut combo, or veggie delite.

Subway offers a selection of footlong sub sandwiches for $4.99. That's $1 under last January's footlong offer, although that was ... Read
more.

Updated: January 2, 2018

As part of a class action lawsuit settlement, customers who purchased certain Roundup Weed & Grass Killer Concentrate Plus or Super Concentrate may be entitled to cash compensation. The suit alleged that these concentrated products were advertised to make more spray solution than they actually did. Eligible customers can receive a refund of up to 50% of the weighted average retail price for these products and are limited to 20 claims per household. (The actual amount will depend on the total numbers of claims from all customers.) Click here for more information. Claims must be submitted by March 6.

Note: To qualify for a claim in your state, you must have purchased these products after the dates listed here. (While most dates are April 5, the qualifying year varies by state.)

HP has announced a voluntary recall of select HP laptop batteries due to an overheating defect that could result in a fire or burn hazard to customers. For affected customers, HP is providing battery replacement services by an authorized technician for free. (For some models, the battery is built-in and cannot be removed by the customer.)

For a list of laptop models that may be affected, scroll down to the bottom of the page at this link. Then, if you have one of these models, download this validation tool to see if you need to replace your battery. (Not all batteries have the defect and require replacement.)

HP has announced a voluntary recall of select HP laptop batteries due to an overheating defect that could result in ... Read
more.

Updated: January 5, 2018

Chobani offers your choice of Chobani Greek Yogurt Product for free via a printable coupon. (You must enter your email address and ZIP code to print the coupon.) It's by far the best offer we've seen from Chobani. Eligible items for this promotion include Chobani 5.3-oz. Greek Yogurt, Chobani Flip 5.3-oz. Yogurt, Chobani 10-oz. Drink, and Chobani Smooth Yogurt Drink 2-Pack. The coupon must be redeemed by March 4. If you live in NJ or LA, you'll instead receive a 50 cents off coupon. Other conditions apply.

13 Deals offers the Energizer Automatic Slim LED Nightlights 2-Pack for $6.46. Coupon code "ENERGIZER1218" cuts the price to $3.49. With free shipping, that's tied with our mention from a week ago and the lowest price we could find by $10. They are sensor activated and measure 4.5" x 2" x 1.5".

Udemy continues to offer a selection of online courses for free. Each course includes hours of content, and most are by far the best deals we could find for such classes. Here are a few interesting ones:

Udemy continues to offer a selection of online courses for free. Each course includes hours of content, and most are ... Read
more.

Updated: January 12, 2018

H&M takes up to 80% off a selection of new arrival apparel, shoes, accessories, and home items. (Prices are as marked.) Shipping adds $5.99, but orders of $40 or more receive free shipping via coupon code "0040". Kids' items start at $1.99, men's shirts at $2.99, and women's dresses at $3.99.

H&M takes up to 80% off a selection of new arrival apparel, shoes, accessories, and home items. (Prices are as ... Read
more.

Updated: 1 week 5 days ago

Macy's cuts up to 85% off a selection of men's suits and suit separates, with prices starting at $26.96. Plus, get an extra 20% off select styles via coupon code "BIG". (Eligible items are marked.) Pad your order with a beauty item (they start at $3) to bag free shipping; otherwise, shipping adds $10.95, or get free shipping with orders of $99 or more. Among the discounted brands are Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, and Michael Kors. Deal ends February 25.

Walmart cuts up to 72% off a selection of exercise equipment, wearable tech, hydration items, and more during its Fitness ... Read
more.

Updated: January 31, 2018

Nordstrom takes up to 40% off a selection of apparel, shoes, and home items during its Winter Clearance Sale. (Prices are as marked. Although the banner says up to 40% off, we found deeper discounts within.) Plus, all orders receive free shipping. Size and availability for some items is limited. Sale ends February 25.

Oakley takes up to 50% off a selection of men's clearance apparel and accessories, with prices starting at $1.50 $10. ... Read
more.

Updated: January 29, 2018

That Daily Deal offers access to its February Extreme Stupid Good Deals for free. That's a $5 savings and tied with our November mention as the best deal we could find. Through February 28, you'll receive access to exclusive rapid-fire deals, and everything you order during this time will be shipped together. Note: Although this is a free offer, you will need to enter credit card information to get this deal.

Tory Burch cuts up to 60% off a selection of its women's apparel, shoes, bags, and accessories. Plus, all orders ... Read
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Updated: 2 weeks 4 days ago

Roxy via eBay offers the Roxy Women's Whole Hearted Long Sleeve Rashguard in several colors (Dusk pictured) for $13.98 with free shipping. That's the lowest price we could find by $6, although most stores charge over $30. It's available in sizes XS to XL.

ThinkGeek takes up to 80% off a selection of sale items during its Winter Clearance. Shipping adds $5.95, or get ... Read
more.

Updated: December 27, 2017

Macy's discounts a selection of women's leggings and sweatpants, with prices starting from $4.96. Pad your order with a beauty item (they start at $3) to bag free shipping; otherwise, shipping adds $10.95. A couple of best bets:

Walmart discounts a selection of clothing, accessories, electronics, home items, and more during its Presidents' Day Sale. Shipping adds $5.99, ... Read
more.

Updated: 2 days 14 hr ago

Redbox offers a coupon code good for a 1-night Blu-ray, DVD, or video game rental for free when you text "Valpak" to 727272. (It can be used online or at Redbox locations.) That's the best Redbox coupon we've seen since July. (Most free coupons only apply to DVDs and take just $1.50 off other items.) The coupon code you'll receive expires February 28.